DPP approves manslaughter charges in deadly South C building collapse

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has approved the prosecution of dozens of individuals, including senior public officials, developers, engineers and architects, over the collapse of the Manzil Towers building in Nairobi's South C area earlier this year.

In a statement issued on Friday, the office of the DPP said it had completed an independent review of an investigation file submitted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) concerning the January 2, 2026 tragedy and found sufficient evidence to support criminal charges against several suspects.

The ODPP said the decision was reached after a thorough analysis of the evidence and that there exists a realistic prospect of conviction against those implicated in the collapse.

The charges stem from findings relating to the approval, oversight and regulatory processes surrounding the construction project before it came crashing down.

Among those approved for prosecution is Nairobi County Chief Officer for Urban Planning Patrick Analo Akivaga, who will face charges of abuse of office and neglect of official duty.

The charges come just days after his arrest by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in a separate corruption investigation.

According to the charge sheet released by the ODPP, four individuals - Daniel Alphonse Odhiambo, Gideon Chege Mwangi, Abdishakur Muse Mohamed and Yussuf Mohamed Yussuf - will face manslaughter charges contrary to Sections 202 and 205 of the Penal Code.

The four are also among those accused of commencing the construction project without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licence, contrary to the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA).

The prosecution list further includes 37 individuals who will be charged with abuse of office and a similar number facing charges of neglect of official duty.

Those named include county officials, regulatory officers and professionals associated with the project's planning, approval and implementation.

Several suspects are also set to face document-related offences. Architect Gideon Chege Mwangi, alongside Abdishakur Muse Mohamed and Yussuf Mohamed Yussuf, will be charged with making false documents. Mohamed and Yussuf will face additional charges of uttering false documents.

The ODPP noted that the approved charges cover a range of offences, including manslaughter, abuse of office, neglect of official duty, making and uttering false documents, and undertaking a project without the requisite environmental approvals.

The ODPP emphasized that the decision to charge was made in strict compliance with Article 157 of the Constitution, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act and the Decision to Charge Guidelines. Prosecutors said the determination was based solely on the evidence gathered by investigators.

The accused persons are expected to be arraigned in court to answer to the charges.

The Manzil Towers collapse sparked widespread public concern over construction safety standards, regulatory oversight and accountability within Nairobi's building approval system.